Please explore the following sections for more information:
If 100 sexually active women don’t use any contraception, 80 to 90 will become pregnant in a year. If taken according to instructions the POP is over 99 per cent effective. This means that less than one woman in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
If the POP is not taken according to instructions, more women will become pregnant.
POP need to be taken every day, even during times of vaginal bleeding (with no breaks).
POP need to be taken at a regular time of day either within a 12 hour time frame (window period) and some older type POP within a three hour time frame (e.g. if you take your older type POP at 8am every day, you would need to take it no later than 11am every day) Missed a pill?
The POP works by thickening the mucus from your cervix. This makes it difficult for sperm to move through it and reach an egg.
The newer type POP (containing the hormones desogestrel) sometimes stops your ovaries releasing an egg (ovulation).
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POP can be taken by most women
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Can be used whilst breastfeeding
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Can be used if contraception containing oestrogens, like those found in the combined pill (COC) or contraceptive patch are contraindicated
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Can be used at any age, weight and if you
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It is very effective when taken correctly.
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Sex need not be interrupted to use.
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It can be used when breastfeeding.
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It can be used by women for whom the combined oral contraceptive is not suitable.
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There is no evidence suggesting a delay in the return of fertility when the POP is stopped.
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The POP may help to alleviate painful periods.
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Available evidence has not shown an increased risk of pregnancy in POP users with a heavier body weight or a higher body mass index (BMI)
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The POP must be taken daily with no pill-free interval.
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Adverse effects may occur, such as unscheduled bleeding and breast tenderness.
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Contraceptive efficacy is likely to be reduced in women using liver enzyme-inducing drugs.
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It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Some women may develop small fluid-filled cysts on their ovaries. These cysts usually disappear without treatment.
